This year’s top Medway business could have spent its £1,000 prize on a staff party.

Instead, DCB (Kent), the building and refurbishment firm dubbed Medway Business of the Year 2015 at a gala dinner on Friday, gave it to charity.

Four good causes supported by the Mayor of Medway Cllr Barry Kemp – The Friends of the Wisdom Hospice, Holding On Letting Go, Making Miracles and the Oliver Fisher Special Baby Unit – will share the surprise windfall.

The donation was added to the £1,100 raised from a prize draw among 200 guests at the glitzy event hosted by BBC South East’s Rob Smith at Priestfield Stadium, Gillingham.

Cllr Kemp said: “It’s very generous of you and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Chris Webster, DCB Kent’s managing director, said his team worked hard to support good causes and it was the right thing to do.

Mr Webster and his wife Caroline founded the Hartlip-based company in 1998. It now employs more than 100 and has a £20 million turnover.

"We came to the event not really expecting anything. I’m so stunned but so happy" - Chris Webster

Mr Webster was overjoyed at his firm’s victory, the first time it had entered the awards.

He said: “It’s a bit surreal. We came to the event not really expecting anything. I’m so stunned but so happy. We will go home, have a coffee and think – wow, did that really happen? It’s amazing and I’m really proud of my team.”

Specialist awards went to BB7 Fire (Innovation and Strategy), HE Services (Success through Training), Scallywags Medway (Best Newcomer), and Diggerland (Growth by Marketing).

Twelve finalists from an entry of nearly 50 each received a framed certificate.

Medway Council's economic growth chief Cllr Jane Chitty hailed Medway's fantastic businesses, saying that 12 of the 50 fastest-growing companies listed in the latest MegaGrowth 50 are based in the Towns.

She said: "This proves to me that Medway has a well-balanced diverse economy that punches well above its weight.

"Medway is a vibrant place to live and work."

The award sponsors are: EON, Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB), Furley Page, KM Media Group, Kent Business School, Kent Reliance, Kreston Reeves, Lloyds Bank, Medway Council, MidKent College, National Grid, Southeastern, and the University of Greenwich.

For all the results and photos from the event, pick up a copy of Friday's Medway Messenger.